STAYING “FRESH” IN THE WORLD OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

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“Oh, the places you’ll go!”  As I reflect back on 2018, this sentiment was definitely true. People often ask me why I travel so much and if the travel is related to my work. My response is simple – yes, it’s necessary to better support my students!

I take great pride in having been accepted into two professional organizations designed for college counselors – Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA). Both organizations offer annual conferences that provide an opportunity for members to attend workshops spanning a wide variety of topics, as well as engage in conversations with colleagues to compare notes about our common – and not so common – experiences in the work we do every day. Last month’s article highlighted two conference presentations I attended related to STEM and Trends in College Admissions.

At the conference, I also had the great pleasure of facilitating a roundtable discussion for independent educational consultants who “give back” by partnering with community organizations to provide college counseling services, assisting students on a pro-bono or sliding scale basis and/or deliver free workshops for organizations in the community.  As an active member of my community, I always enjoy opportunities to learn more about how colleagues around the country implement programs and deliver services that benefit under-served students.

College visits help to give me a fresh perspective and have become a staple of nearly every trip I take! But there’s nothing like touring colleges with fellow college counselors, where we get to share our impressions of the schools and exchange thoughts about the type(s) of students that might be a good fit.  I embarked upon one of those fun trips to Missouri – appropriately called the STEAM Tour – in July. I absolutely love learning about schools that are (or could be) hidden gems for students, if they and their parents would allow themselves to consider great schools, often with good merit aid, that do not necessarily have the same name-recognition as other institutions.  Here are a few examples:

  • Drury University – Cyber Risk Management major, average starting salary out of college is $95K and per Bureau of Labor Statistics, this career field is projected to grow 28%. They also have an accredited architecture program, with a 5 year Masters’ degree program designed so that you keep your undergraduate financial aid for all 5 years.
  • Missouri Science & Technology – Ceramics engineering major where 55% of the students in that major are women
  • Saint Louis University – right in the heart of St. Louis but the beautiful campus is enclosed in a way you forget you are in the middle of the city! Strong aviation and aeronautics programs; fun fact: an SLU alum has participated in every NASA space mission!

I also toured Prairie View A&M University (TX), Lincoln University (PA), Villanova University (PA), Hampton University (VA) and the University of Washington. I always encourage students and families to visit schools during family vacations whenever it’s feasible. There are so many great institutions out there that you just might be surprised when you stumble upon a campus that just takes your breath away!

So where will my travels take me in 2019?  I’ll visit schools in the Chicago area in the Spring and head to Rhode Island and Tennessee during the summer.  I haven’t finalized my college tour list yet, but I know there are great adventures ahead, exploring a variety of schools with colleagues.  Stay tuned for great stories and fun facts in the months to come.  In the meantime, I’ll be working with juniors to get them ramped up for the college application process and helping seniors evaluate offers of admission and financial aid awards. And my work in the community will include co-chairing the 29th Annual Black College Awareness Fair sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Delta Omega Chapter on March 2, 2019 and serving on the leadership team for the 30th Annual Student Recognition Program sponsored by the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators on May 5, 2019.  Never a dull moment in the life of this college counselor!

So as you begin anew in 2019, embrace opportunities to “stay fresh” in your own way. Take time to identify things you want to know more about, try out new activities, and cast your net wide as you explore schools you’ve never heard of. Fresh starts feel good, too!  And always remember, The Journey Begins with You…!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators (SCCABE), Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, the African American Community Services Agency (AACSA), and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents (NCAMP)